[Strategerist]

You have to have Top Secret Clearance to be a Commander in Chief, if I am not mistaken.

Being Commander in Chief gets you all the clearances you want.

If someone gets elected President, it's not like there's a background check to see if they can get intel briefings.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

I would think you would have to have one (clearance) BEFORE the other (position)

[Ax]

All commissioned officers automatically have TS clearances. They don't receive their commissions unless they have been thoroughly vetted.

All elected officials also have TS clearances. They need not have been vetted. I can't think of one person in the Clinton transition team who would have qualified for a Confidential clearance.